For most homeowners, improving their home’s energy efficiency revolves around HVAC tune-ups and upgrades. However, other components greatly impact your home’s energy consumption apart from your heating and cooling system. And unknown to many, the roof is one of these components.
Your roof’s functionality extends beyond protecting your home against harsh elements. With proper design, installation, and maintenance, your roof reduces your home’s energy consumption, translating to lower utility bills.
How Does the Roof Affect Your Home’s Energy Efficiency?
Your roof helps regulate your indoor temperatures by creating a barrier between your home and the outside. During the warm months, the roof prevents the hot outdoor air from sneaking into your home. When the hot air outside can’t penetrate your home, you achieve a cool and cozy indoor temperature. Conversely, during the cold months when temperatures outside are freezing, the roof ensures cold air doesn’t permeate to make your house cooler.
However, if your roof is old, lacked maintenance, or had improper installation, it can no longer perform this function effectively. The outdoor temperature and humidity will infiltrate your indoors through the roof and affect your living space environment. When your house’s temperature and humidity levels destabilize, your HVAC system will overwork and consume more power, increasing energy bills.
For instance, when temperatures are low, you’ll depend on your home’s heating system to heat your home. Unfortunately, if your roof is in dilapidated condition, the roof will more easily allow the cold air from outside to leak in. In such a case, your furnace will often need to work overtime or at a higher level to maintain warm indoor temperatures. As a result, the heating system can use more energy and skyrocket your utility bills.
Besides the high utility bills, your heating and cooling system will likely wear out more quickly, resulting in premature replacement.
How Can a New Roof Save You on Energy Costs?
If you want a way to improve your home’s energy efficiency, consider a roof replacement, especially if your roof is old and obsolete. Discover how a roof replacement can reduce your energy costs.
Insulation
During a roof replacement, an experienced roofer will pay close attention to your roof’s insulation. Proper insulation helps prevent air movement in and out of your house. Thus, your indoor environment will remain cozy regardless of the time of the year and climate. Also, by preventing any air leakage, proper insulation ensures your HVAC system doesn’t overwork.
Ventilation
When the outdoor and indoor temperatures are high and your roof doesn’t have good ventilation, the heat gets trapped inside your home’s attic. The hot air can overheat your home, overwork the AC, and raise your monthly utility bills. Also, excess heat can damage your roofing material to cause repairs or premature roof replacement.
A roof replacement project will involve intake and exhaust vent installation to increase your roof’s ventilation. Proper airflow in the attic will lower your home’s energy consumption due to reduced dependency on AC. And besides reducing your energy costs, proper airflow in the attic will improve your roof’s lifespan.
Solar Reflection
If your roof doesn’t block sunlight, the heat absorbs and transfers into your house. However, with the right roofing material, your roof can reflect sunlight and lower your home’s temperature. By opting for a cool roof with high solar reflection, your roof can reflect sunlight more effectively. As a result, you won’t have to use your AC excessively, as your roof will deflect most of the solar heat away from your house.
If you want to maintain optimal energy efficiency in your home, your roof must be in great shape. If the roof is in run-down condition, replace the roof to enjoy numerous perks. If you need roof replacement, repair, or installation, contact Precise Roofing and Contracting for professional roofing services.
